Re:America has more new spaceships on the way
by mabbo on Monday June 01, 2020 @12:35PM
(#23380411)
It would be a lot of work, that's certain.
Basing this purely on my Kerbal intuition, SpaceX might try something along the lines of: 1- use a falcon heavy to get a tug (Merlin Vacuum rocket, plus big fuel tank plus docking port) into low earth orbit. Very soon afterwards, launch the Dragon to a rendezvous orbit with the tug. Meet, join, head out.
Dragon can land itself with Draco thrusters it already has and likely take off as well- if it has enough fuel. The Dragon might need to be modified for extra fuel.
Then of course it either needs a thicker heat shield or else more fuel to slow down before they hit atmosphere, whichever is lighter/cheaper to develop.
Could be done, but the R&D money for that could instead be put into Starship. Same story as the recovery of falcon second stage.
Basing this purely on my Kerbal intuition, SpaceX might try something along the lines of: 1- use a falcon heavy to get a tug (Merlin Vacuum rocket, plus big fuel tank plus docking port) into low earth orbit. Very soon afterwards, launch the Dragon to a rendezvous orbit with the tug. Meet, join, head out.
Dragon can land itself with Draco thrusters it already has and likely take off as well- if it has enough fuel. The Dragon might need to be modified for extra fuel.
Then of course it either needs a thicker heat shield or else more fuel to slow down before they hit atmosphere, whichever is lighter/cheaper to develop.
Could be done, but the R&D money for that could instead be put into Starship. Same story as the recovery of falcon second stage.